DICK VAN DYKE, born in West Plains, Missouri, achieved international recognition with the musical, Bye-Bye Birdie (for which he won a Tony Award), and the movie based on it. Dick Van Dyke chose De L'Esprie to sculpt the likeness of himself and his wife, Michelle, for a ministry called The Midnight Mission on Skid Row in Los Angeles.

Since Bye-Bye Birdie, Dick Van Dyke has starred in a number of films and TV shows, including The Dick Van Dyke Show, Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and Dick Tracy. Dick Van Dyke has been awarded no less that four Emmys for his role on television shows. Dick Van Dyke's family members often appeared with him on the show Diagnosis Murder.

Credits of Dick Van Dyke include:

• Mary Poppins
• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
• Dick Tracy
• Bye Bye Birdie
• The Dick Van Dyke Show
• Diagnosis Murder